Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

The Middle Daughter by Chika Unigwe

11 reviews

kawi's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative inspiring sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, and Rape

nini23's review against another edition

There is nothing wrong with this book, I just can't stomach a 17-year-old while grieving family deaths being subsumed by an older 'man of God.' 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, and Grief

raquelbb's review

challenging dark emotional sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This book made me sad - it was so dark. I couldn’t bare watching Nani go through one trauma after another. 

In the end,

I was really glad to see Nani find her freedom. However, it’s clear she is only able to escape the situation because of her background of wealth and connections. Maybe that’s a comment on how difficult it is for survivors of SA and DV to get out. Imagine if Nani had been from a poor background, her ending might have been very different.

I did love the narration from  Nneka Okoye.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse and Death

browngirlreading's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Rape, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Abandonment, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Sexual assault, and Sexism

serendipitysbooks's review

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

 

The Middle Daughter is inspired by the Hades and Persephone myth but has a feminist twist and is set in modern Nigeria. Following the deaths of her older sister and then her father 17 year old Nani is reeling. That she is grieving in a different way than her mother and younger sister leaves her feeling isolated and confused, vulnerable to the attention of Ephraim, an itinerant preacher. The plot then goes on to cover some heavy topics so do check for trigger warnings. I don’t want to give away spoilers but I will say I admired Nani’s strength and resilience, the way she was able to stay strong for her children. Her husband made my skin crawl and my blood pressure skyrocket, so kudos to Unigwe for such effective characterisation. He was a chilling representation of power hungry men who misuse religion for their own twisted and selfish ends. I struggled to connect with Nani’s mother. She loved her daughter so I have to accept that she believed she was acting in Nani’s best interests, but it really felt like she was simply trying to save face by avoiding gossip and public shaming. I couldn’t help but draw comparisons with Clarissa, an 18th century novel where the parents cut their daughter off, because she won’t obey them, but in so doing push her into a terrible situation with no means of escape. Loved that the end here offered hope after all the hardship. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Death, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Rape, and Grief

chapstickdealer's review against another edition

dark emotional sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Rape, Death of parent, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Classism, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Pregnancy

Minor: Lesbophobia and Police brutality

kirstym25's review against another edition

dark sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Violence, and Pregnancy

booktrovert's review against another edition

dark emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape

Moderate: Domestic abuse

clotalksbooks's review

challenging dark hopeful reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

4.5

What a powerful story. Although a retelling of the Hades and Persephone myth, I was glad to hear that there would be a hopeful ending when I attended an event with the author. That made listening to this bearable, as it is such a gut-wrenching story. It is so sad and terrifying that this sort of thing happens in the world. 

The characters are so well drawn, and the conflicts within are painted so fully. 

The narrators are wonderful, and I loved the parts in different languages. The setting is brought alive through the language and voice. 

I hurtled through this, desperate to see what would happen to the characters. This shows the strength of the writing, as usually with such bleak subject matter I'm in no rush to pick it up. Wonderfully tackled in this book though. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse

Moderate: Rape

annie26's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Devoured this book, absolutely devoured it. This is such an interesting one because it’s subject matter is objectively difficult to read (grief, abuse, domestic violence) but the way it’s structured - short chapters, varying POVs and a really compelling story makes it so very readable. Fans of Tomorrow I Become a Woman will want to read this, thank you to Canongate for my copy.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Cancer, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Religious bigotry